TRAVELLERS BY STEAMER

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7445, 20 May 1911, Page 12

TRAVELLERS BY STEAMER

DATE ARRIVAL IK" PORT. POSITION OF THE ONION COMP ANT AND PASSENGERS." In conversation with a representative of the “Now Zealand Times” * yesterday Mr A. Kennedy, manager for tho union .5.3. Company in Wellington, said that in view of certain criticism which has been parsed upon tho company in respect of passengers from Picton and Nelson arriving 'in Wellington at night being compelled to go ashore to sock lodgings, he felt it nocessar, in justice. to the company and to the stewards of the iteamers, to depart from his usual practice if ignoring anonymous letters, and say that it is a standing regulation that in the event oLsteamers from Picton and Nelson arriving* as late as 10 p.m. passengers should have tho option of remaining on board for the night. It was fully recognised by the company that at such an hour it was a maticr of difficulty for passengers—especially women and children—to arrange for lodging In the city.if they had not had the foresight to do so previously. Passengers who avail themselves of this option were supplied free of charge with tea or coffee in the morning, # their boots were polished, and they also had liberty to use the bathrooms. In some instances passengers made the reque-jt that they bo allowed to remain and have breakfast on board, and this was also permitted,- but a small charge was made fori the meal. “That tho instructions to .the stewards* department as to passengers being entitled to these things is carried out Is proved beyond doubt," said Mr Kennedy, "by the very considerable amounts paid into the company's office by the chief stewards for breakfasts supplied on board steamers. The concession really entails a very considerable amount of inconvenience to the stewards' staff In view of tho short interval left between breakfast time and tho hour of tho vessel's departure for -tho purpose of changing bod linen, cleaning out cabins, etc. In view of these facts, therefore, ana seeing that a largo section of the travelling public is evidently well aware of, and avails- Itself of the privilege granted by tho company, it is much to be regretted that those passengers who have been nursing a grievance did not at once report the circumstances to the master of the shin or to the management. The companyinvites representations of this character. It will be readily recognised that unless they are made the company cannot know that any breach of regulations is being committed. "With revard to the Isolated case of the Pateena missing connection with tho Mararoa on tho night of Saturday, 13th inst., it is recognised bv the company that on this occasion hardshin was caused, in Individual cases; but this would in all probability have been avoided had those passengers who were specially desirous of connecting with the notified our Blenheim manager daring the day instead of leaving him in ignorance of the fact until the evening, hv which time it was too late for tho arrangements made for the shipment of outward cargo to be altered. Tt must be recognised by any reasonable person that tho steamers are not run solely in the interests of na««engcTS, but that there also is an obligation on tho company's part to remove cargo standing in railway trucks which wouM otherwise T>© subject, to a demurrage charge by the Railway Department.